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News Release - Manitoba

March 12, 2010

Premier Calls for Award Nominations to Recognize Exceptional Adult Learners



Premier Greg Selinger today announced nominations are being accepted for the 2010 Council of the Federation Literacy Award to recognize outstanding achievements in adult literacy.
 
“Strong literacy skills help Manitobans compete in today’s job market, reach their educational goals, provide for their families and look after their own health and well-being,” Selinger said.  “I commend all adult learners who are working hard to improve their literacy skills and I look forward to honouring this year’s recipient of this special award.”
 
The premier noted that funding for adult literacy programs across the province has more than doubled since 1999.
 
This year marks the sixth annual call for nominations for the Council of the Federation Literacy Award. Created in 2004 by Canada’s premiers, this award recognizes the efforts of individuals and organizations involved in the literacy field. Medallions and certificates are awarded to acknowledge achievement in literacy skills, innovative practice and exemplary programming.  The award recipients will be announced at the Council of the Federation meeting in August 2010 in Winnipeg.  Later this year, Selinger will take over as chair of the provincial Premiers’ Council of the Federation.
 
This year, the Manitoba award will be given to an adult learner who has made outstanding progress in his or her own literacy learning, helped others and overcome challenges in improving their reading and writing skills. The Manitoba recipient will also be recognized at an official ceremony during Literacy Month in September.
 
Eligible nominees must have been actively involved in literacy and essential skills programming within the past 18 months. All nominations must be postmarked by May 28 and the winner will be notified before the public announcement in August.
 
Nomination forms and more information about the award are available on the Internet at www.edu.gov.mb.ca/ael/all/index.html or by calling the Adult Learning and Literacy Branch at 1‑800‑282-8069, ext. 1053.
 
Manitoba’s Adult Literacy Act, the first of its kind in Canada, came into effect on Jan. 1, 2009.  The act formalizes the Manitoba Adult Literacy Program and calls for the development of a provincial adult literacy strategy.  The strategy is intended to be responsive to the changing social and economic needs of the province and to provide direction for effective and appropriate adult literacy programming for Manitobans.  
                                                                            
The Council of the Federationcomprises all 13 provincial and territorial premiers. It was designed to have the premiers work collaboratively to strengthen the Canadian federation by fostering a constructive relationship among the provinces and territories, and with the federal government.
 
 
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